The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Chennel Drive has tips and tools to get the goose out of your waterfront yard, all for free.

From specialized eyeball balloons to noisemakers, to tips on re-vegetating waterfront to advice on how to make your property less desirable, you can get help by calling 223-6832.

My neighbor in the Lakes Region went old school on the problem and is hanging pie tins which dangle in the wind.

"It's working now," he said, standing next to the garbage bag of goose poop he collected. "But sooner or later they will get smart and come back."

The problem with this majestic water bird is that they are far too prolific in many communities these days.

Resident geese have been very successful partly due to the excellent habitat offered by lush manicured lawns, landscaped water bodies, food handouts from people, and relative protection from predators and hunters.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture which has information on nuisance management, common problems include excessive accumulations of feces, nesting season aggression, and generally impeding the public’s ability to enjoy properties such as parks for their intended use.

In rare cases, the federal government will round them up and destroy them if there is enough evidence that efforts to reduce the problem have been unsuccessful.

"Wildlife Services recommends using an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management approach, in which multiple techniques are employed to reduce damage.

This approach may include cessation of any waterfowl feeding, removal of domestic waterfowl, habitat management, harassment and nesting control.

"Harassment of geese with pyrotechnics, propane cannons, trained dogs, vehicles, horns, and other devices can be effective in reducing goose damage" it reads, but it can also be bothersome to neighbors who enjoy the peace and quiet of a lake setting.

Success depends on the technique, nature of the problem, the number and habits of geese present, and the timing and diligence of the harassment.

In general, the best results are obtained when harassment is initiated as soon as the problem is detected.

Also, it is necessary to vary the location of devices and use more than one harassment device each day to avoid habituation, according to the site.

Harassment can be more effective when there are multiple property owners in a local setting who are working together.

This coordinated harassment may discourage a nuisance flock from flying from one property to the next. A community approach can make the difference.

Canada geese are considered a migratory species that is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and thus the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in charge of the nuisance aspect.

New Hampshire has a Canada goose-hunting season in the fall available by license and the duck stamp. You can get information at www.Huntnh.com.